Top 10 most Expensive Cities 2013

A recent study shows that Europe is the most expensive continent in the world, at least in 2013, and TripIndex Cities released by TripAdvisor has just confirmed the same.

The destination list of key cities from 49 countries is based on the data compiled by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). The main comparison criterion is the cost of a night. Whether you’re a penny-pincher or a dollar-stretcher, or just overall feeling a bit light in the wallet, you’ll probably want to cross Norway off your list of travel destinations because the list revealed that the Norwegian capital Oslo, the most expensive city, comes with a price tag of $561.26. It is closely followed by Zurich, Stockholm and New York City.

Traveling to certain countries can put a nice dent in your wallet. But if you like luxurious vacations you may find our Top 10 most expensive cities 2013, your next destination. So, both types of travelers must take notice of the following Top 10.

See below the top ten most expensive cities to live in. Apart from New York City and Oslo, highlights also include London, Paris, and Sydney. The cities were ranked according to their average sales price per square foot.

Oslo is the top most expensive city of Europe and is the capital of Norway. The reason which makes it so expensive is its popularity among local and foreign tourists. Good and services available in Oslo are sold at very high prices. Stockholm is headquarters to numerous international companies like Ericcson and Electrolux which obviously leads to high standard of living of people, which eventually increases the cost of living and thud making Oslo the most expensive one. There is not a single commodity that is available within budget, in Oslo, thus making it the top most expensive city of Europe. Price per night: $560.

Zurich, is the largest city in Switzerland; it is situated above the sea level between the wooded hills on the west and east side which makes this city pure beauty to watch. Zurich is considered as the leading financial center and a global city to stay in. There are numerous international companies in Zurich, which obviously leads to high standard of living of people, and automatically makes it very expensive. Education, food, nightlife and clubbing, etc, are all very expensive in Zurich and are not easy to afford by every class of people. Price per night: $506.

Stockholm is the largest city of Fennoscandia and is the capital city of Sweden. The city center is situated on the water, making it more beautiful and popular, thereby making it all the more expensive. Transportation in Stockholm is thus expensive, as it is mostly water transport. There are numerous restaurants in Stockholm serving almost every type of cuisine, but because of their location the prices are very expensive. Stockholm City hall, Royal Dramatic Theater, German Church and many more places are there to visit in Stockholm, which make the city more attractive and thus expensive. Price per night: $504.

New York City is the capital of USA, one of the most powerful countries in the world, thus making it one of the most expensive cities in the world. Known for its ritzy brownstones, swanky restaurants, high-end shops and refined nightlife venues, New York doesn’t forgive those on a budget. However, the economic crisis and the decreased worth of the U.S. dollar have dropped the New York remains a city perfect for those with thick wallets or bank accounts with many zeros. Yet even though price tags have shrunk, don’t assume that you’ll be able to stretch your budget too far. Price per night: $498.

Paris is the capital city of France and one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in Europe. The proverb “the more the demand the higher will be the prices” is characteristic to Paris, thereby making it one of the most expensive cities in Europe and in the world. Paris hosts some of the most popular tourist attractions in the world, and the more popular the place will be, that is the more will be the demand, the higher will be the prices. This makes Paris all the more expensive. Even the food, the transportation, the education and many other things more costly as compared to other places. Price per night: $495.

Sydney, another city from Australia, is amongst the most expensive cities of the world. Huge cost of bread and bear, high fuel prices and branded clothing have made this city very expensive from the consumer’s point of view. Sydney is the most expensive city of Australia. Most of the people wish to go to this part of the world to have a look at Sydney Harbour Bridge which is most popular place of Australia. Price per night: $446.

London, UK is the capital city of England and is one of the most expensive cities in Europe. May it be restaurants, markets, transportation, utilities, clothing, shoes, sports, leisure, rents, etc. everything in London is sold at very high prices. There are many reasons which makes London so expensive such as high sales tax, retail competition which higher the retail margins and so the prices, high property prices, weak consumerism, biased consumption bundle and strong sterling. Another reason is the great number of tourist attractions that makes London more popular and leads to the rise in prices. Price per night: $437.

Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark and the regional hub of business, media, culture and science. Copenhagen offers a very high standard of living and it is also one of the most environment friendly cities in the world. Owing to huge investments made in the city at the beginning of the millennium, Copenhagen has become a powerful urban and cultural development center, but it has also become one of the most expensive cities that you can live in. Price per night: $429.55.

Cancun is beautiful city located on the coast of the Caribbean Sea. The numerous sandy beaches with clear turquoise waters, lush vegetation, old customs and historical attractions make it a very expensive destination. Flights, shopping, food, transportation, accommodation are all very expensive there. There are many luxury hotels offering the best services and amenities. Price per night: $426.

Punta Cana is located in the La Altagracia Province of the Dominican Republic on the eastern side and is the most exotic destination in Dominican Republic. Spanning about 35 miles of beachfront, Punta Cana has the highest concentration of all-inclusive resorts in the D.R. There are huge multi-resort complexes from chains like Riu and Barcelo that total upwards of 1,800 rooms with multiple pools, restaurants, and bars. This fact makes Punta Cana a very expensive destination. Price per night: $421.